Simon Spivack (2123) - Spanton (1924)
Irregular
1.d3!?
There are 7,226 examples of this move in ChessBase's 2024 Mega database. Presumably the ideas are: a) get the opponent out of book, b) aim for the black side of a regular opening but with colours reversed and a tempo more.
1...d5 2.Nd2!? e5 3.Ngf3 Nc6 4.e4
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| ChessBase calls this "C44: Ponziani Opening and Scotch Gambit," but it bears much more of a resemblance to a King's Indian Attack |
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4...Nf6 5.Be2!?
There are 1,380 examples of this position in Mega24, but 5.g3 gives a position occurring, perhaps surprisingly, only 800 times.
5...Be7 6.0-0 0-0
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| Now both sides have castled, how would you assess the position? |
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It very much looks like a reversed opening, in which White enjoys an extra tempo, but White's setup is so passive it is hard to believe White has an advantage, and indeed Stockfish16 and Komodo14.1 reckon the game is equal.
7.Re1
Most popular is 7.c3, bringing about a Reversed Pribyl.
7...Re8 8.Bf1 Bc5!?
Possibly a novelty. Known moves are 8...Bf8, 8...d4 (the engines' choice) and 8...Bg4.
9.exd5 Qxd5 10.c4?
Positionally suspect, and tactically flawed.
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| How should Black proceed? |
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10...Qd6
This may be enough for a slight edge, but 10...Bxf2+! works, eg 11.Kxf2 Qc5+ 12.Ke2 e4 13.Nxe4 (13.dxe4? Nxe4 14.Nxe4 Rxe4+ 15.Kd2 Qb4+ 16.Kc2 Bf5) Nxe4 14.Be3 Nf6, after which material is equal and White has the bishop-pair, but the White position is a mess. White could try 12.d4, but there is no good answer to 12...Nxd4, eg 13.Ne4 Nxe4+ 14.Rxe4 Nxf3+ 15.Kf3 Qc6 16.Qd5 Qf6+ 17.Ke2 Bf5, when 18.Re3 loses to 18...Bg4+ 19.Ke1 Rad8.
11.a3?! a5?! 12.Qc2?! a4?! 13.h3
At last ...Bxf2+ no longer works, viz 13...Bxf2+?? 14.Kxf2 Qc5+ and either 15.Re3 or 15.Kg3.
14.Ne4 Nxe4
The engines suggest 14...Bxe4!? 15.dxe4 Nd7 may be slightly better.
15.dxe4 Be6 16.Be3 Bxe3 17.Rxe3 Qc5 18.Rd1 f6
The engines dislike 18...b5, claiming White is at least equal after 19.Qc3.
19.Rc3 Re7 20.Rd5!? Qa7
The rook cannot be captured, and the black queen is now somewhat out of play, but the position remains tense.
21.Rd2
The engines fluctuate between moving the rook and continuing to offer it, with 21.c5!? After 21...Bxd5 22.exd5 Nd4 Stockfish16 calls the position equal, but Komodo14.1 reckons Black has the upper hand.
21...Nd4 22.Nxd4 cxd4 23.Rg3 Bf7
Black has at least a slight edge after 23...c5, according to the engines (they also like 23...Kh8), although the black king's position looks shaky after 24.Bd3.
24.Bd3
The engines like 24.c5!?, eg 24...Re5 25.Rxd4 Qxc5 26.Qd2, after which Black's relatively insecure king seems a big factor.
24...Bg6 25.c5 Kh8
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| What should White play? |
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26.c6?!
The engines reckon chances are equal after 26.f4, and after the remarkable 26.Bf1!?, when 26...Bxe4 is met by 27.Qc4.
26...b6?!
After 26...bxc6 27.Qxc6 Black has 27...Be8 with ...c5 to come and the better game, according to the engines.
27.f4
The engines reckon White has at least a tiny pull after 27.Qd1!?
27...Qa5 28.e5!?
This is best, according to the engines, but they reckon the game is now completely equal.
28...Bxd3 29.Rgxd3 fxe5 30.fxe5 Rxe5 31.Rxd4 Rae8?!
It seems 31...Re1+ with ...Rae8 to come is more precise.
32.Rd8
White gains at least a slight edge, according to the engines, with 32.Kh2, when 32...Re1, trying to transpose to the game, is met by 33.Rd5. Instead they give best-play as 32...R5e6 33.Re2!? g6 34.Ree4!?, but it may be 34...Rxe4 35.Rxe4 Rxe4 36.Qxe4 Qc5 equalises (Komodo14.1 gives White the upper hand, but Stockfish16 reckons White has at best a light edge).
32...Re1+ 33.Kh2
White is probably also fine after 33.Kf2!?, but it would be easier to go wrong.
33...Qe5+ 34.g3 Qh5 35.Qd3 h6 36.Qd7 Re2+ 37.Rxe2 ½–½
Battersea defaulted on board two, losing the match 2-3.
MY BATTERSEA SEASON 2023-4
DATE.....EVENT...........................COL..RATING..OPP'S RATING..SCORE..SEASON PERF
24/10/23 London League B 1870 2102 = 2102
26/10/23 Central London League W 1870 2118 = 2110
21/11/23 Eastman Cup W 1882 2118 = 2113
14/12/23 Central London League B 1882 2152 0 2023
10/1/24 London League B 1884 2130 0 1964
11/1/24 Central London League B 1884 2278 1 2083
25/1/24 Central London League W 1884 2205 = 2100
30/1/24 Club Championship B 1884 1809 1 2114
1/2/24 Central London League W 1916 2072 0 2065
7/2/24 London League B 1916 2298 0 2048
8/2/24 Central London League B 1916 1960 0 2004
15/2/24 Central London League B 1916 1951 = 1999
29/2/24 Central London League B 1916 2014 0 1970
5/3/24 Club Championship W 1910 1990 1 2000
2/4/24 Club Championship B 1924 1927 0 1968
4/4/24 Central London League B 1924 2123 = 1978
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